NHTSA Complaint #10203051 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I HEARD ALOUD CLICK SOUND. THOUGHT IT WAS A ROCK HITTING THE GLASS. HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOKED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SOUND, I COULD SEE A CRACK SPREADING ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THIS WAS NOT TRAUMA RELATED!! IT JUST CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS AND STOPPED WHEN IT CAME TO THE PART OF THE DASH THAT STARTS GOING DOWNWARD. IT IS NOW SLOWLY TRAVELING DOWN NOW, BUT WILL END SOON WHEN IT GETS TO THE NEXT SEAM. IT IS CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN ONE CONTINUOUS CRACK TRAVELING FROM THE DASH SEAM NEAR THE WINDSHIELD STRAIGHT OUT OVER THE TOP OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT/AIR BAG. I WOULD EXPECT THIS FROM AN OLDER TRUCK BUT NOT A TRUCK THAT IS JUST OVER 3 YRS OLD. THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF CRACK FROM THE SUN, IT IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT!! WOULDN'T A CRACK LIKE THIS EFFECT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OPERATION? I HAVE TALKED TO MY DEALER AND CHRYSLER AND THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED. EVEN WITH MYMAXIMUM CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY. A NEW DASH WAS QUOTED TO ME AT $1800.